EverAfter Romancehttps://www.everafterromance.com
Share What You LoveTue, 26 Sep 2017 20:02:15 +0000en-UShourly1https://i0.wp.com/www.everafterromance.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/08/cropped-EverAfter_APP_Icons-01.png?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1EverAfter Romancehttps://www.everafterromance.com
3232102107102Victorians Like You & Me | Sandra Schwabhttps://www.everafterromance.com/yuletide-truce-sandra-schwab/
https://www.everafterromance.com/yuletide-truce-sandra-schwab/#respondTue, 26 Sep 2017 19:54:08 +0000https://www.everafterromance.com/?p=11086London, 1845 It’s December, Alan “Aigee” Garmond’s favorite time of the year, when the window display of the small bookshop where he works fills up with crimson Christmas books and sprays of holly. Everything could be perfect — if it weren’t for handsome Christopher Foreman, the brilliant writer for the fashionable magazine About Town, who […]

It’s December, Alan “Aigee” Garmond’s favorite time of the year, when the window display of the small bookshop where he works fills up with crimson Christmas books and sprays of holly. Everything could be perfect — if it weren’t for handsome Christopher Foreman, the brilliant writer for the fashionable magazine About Town, who has taken an inexplicable and public dislike to Aigee’s book reviews.

But why would a man such as Foreman choose to target reviews published in a small bookshop’s magazine? Aigee is determined to find out. And not, he tells himself, just because he finds Foreman so intriguing.

Aigee’s quest leads him from smoke-filled ale-houses into the dark, dingy alleys of one of London’s most notorious rookeries. And then, finally, to Foreman. Will Aigee be able to wrangle a Yuletide truce from his nemesis?

Thank you so much for hosting me today, EverAfter Romance, as I celebrate the release of my Victorian holiday romance Yuletide Truce!
Let’s talk about the Victorians, shall we? The Victorians are often said to be straitlaced and stuffy, with no sense of humor. But were they really? If you look a bit closer, you’ll soon find that the Victorians were as fun-loving as you and me, and they struggled with similar problems as we do today. This becomes abundantly clear through the social cuts of the satirical magazine Punch.

1) Graffiti? Yep, the Victorians had them!
Meet Mr. Briggs, who has just moved into the suburbs that were growing all around London. And he is not happy that some boys continue to scribble on his garden walls:
“The Intelligent Reader is requested to imagine that the Gates in the above Cartoon have just been thoroughly cleaned, and fresh painted. On his return from the City, Mr. Briggs finds that rude boys (totally regardless of his feelings), have been farther decorating them.”
(By the wonderful John Leech)

2) The Trials & Tribulations of Owning a House
Poor Mr. Briggs! A slate has come loose on the roof of his pretty suburban villa, which means an invasion of builders follows soon. Oh dear!

3) Victorians grumbled about their public transport…
See? Just like us! Just with real horsies instead of horsepower. And nowadays, you probably won’t encounter a medical student with a glass full of leeches on the bus. (Cartoon by Richard Doyle, one of my favorite Victorian artists)

4) …about their roads…
(By Richard Doyle)

5) …and about traffic jams of epic proportions!
GAH! (Unsigned, so I’m not quite sure who created this cartoon)

6) And what’s up with all these ads?
(by John Leech)

7) Victorians loved going to the zoo…
Meet Brown, Jones, and Robinson in one of their adventures around the metropolis (by Richard Doyle).

8) …and to the circus
Astley’s Amphitheatre was famous for its equestrian shows, acrobats and conjurors. The famous clown Grimaldi worked here, too. Astley’s also staged epic battle scenes. (From the Manners & Customs series by Richard Doyle)

9) Before they went to a party, they made sure to have GREAT hair…
More Brown, Jones, and Robinson! They also take some dancing lessons to catch up with the latest trend in dancing (the polka).

10) …and hoped for a dash of romance
Awww!

Award-winning author SANDRA SCHWAB started writing her first novel when she was seven years old. Thirty-odd years later, telling stories is still her greatest passion, even though by now, she has exchanged her pink fountain pen of old for a black computer keyboard. Since the release of her debut novel in 2005, she has enchanted readers worldwide with her unusual historical romances (some of which she now uses to shamelessly fangirl over Punch, her favorite Victorian magazine).

She holds a PhD in English literature, and in autumn 2015, she appeared on the BBC documentary Great Continental Railway Journeys to talk about another favorite topic of hers, the Grimms’ fairy tales (while walking through a rather muddy stretch of the Black Forest) (there were a lot of slugs, too).

She lives in Frankfurt am Main / Germany with a sketchbook, a sewing machine, and an ever-expanding library.

]]>https://www.everafterromance.com/yuletide-truce-sandra-schwab/feed/011086The Book that Made Meg Kassel Want to Writehttps://www.everafterromance.com/book-made-meg-kassel-want-write/
https://www.everafterromance.com/book-made-meg-kassel-want-write/#respondWed, 20 Sep 2017 20:34:40 +0000https://www.everafterromance.com/?p=11078Authors write books that readers fall in love with, but before they were authors, writers were readers. Behind every author is a story about a reader who fell in love with a book (or books), and that love transformed them into writers themselves. BEAUTY, by Robin McKinley, is the story of the book that made […]

Authors write books that readers fall in love with, but before they were authors, writers were readers. Behind every author is a story about a reader who fell in love with a book (or books), and that love transformed them into writers themselves. BEAUTY, by Robin McKinley, is the story of the book that made me want to write. It was an older, out of print book when I first found it in my middle school library and it is a retelling of beauty and the beast. To this day, there isn’t a retelling of that fairy tale that I can say no to. It’s also a theme I visit in one form or another in all of my books when I intend it or not.

Back in the eighth grade, I wasn’t thinking about becoming an author, I was just looking for a temporary escape from the misery that is puberty and other struggles that I kept tightly to myself. Here, I was able to slip into a fantasy world with a heroine named “Beauty” who was not terribly different from me. She was socially awkward, had pimples, was unsure where she belonged in the world. And here she was, having a grand adventure, winning the everlasting love of a cursed prince who would die for her. I won’t say the pacing is all that tight. The descriptions are as lush as they are lengthy, the writing style is old fashioned, and utilizes a staggering number of semi-colons, but I checked this book out of the library dozens of times.

Eventually, I hunted down a copy in a used book store. It’s the most frequently re-read book on my forever shelf, however when I read it now as an adult—and a writer—I observe different things (such as the semi-colons). But I love it just the same. Here’s a short excerpt:

“I was fond of horses, once,” said the Beast; and his words had a distant sound, as if they echoed down a cold corridor of centuries. I look at him inquiringly, but said nothing. He replied in answer to what I did not say: “Yes; I have not always been as you see me now.” Not Cerberus, then, I thought absently, still petting my horse; but I did not pursue the question any further. For my own limited peace of mind I preferred to admire the small victory I had just won, and leave the castle’s immense secrets to themselves.

—BEAUTY, by Robin McKinley, page 153

I can’t put my finger on exactly what it is that makes me love this book so much. Maybe it’s the mystery, the weight of the words. The delicious, slow unraveling of a puzzle everyone knows the answer to. It’s no secret how Beauty and the Beast ends, but McKinley writes as if it is a secret, as if there are still things to discover about this oft-told tale.

If I were to distill the purpose of my writing down to a single thing, it would be to write books that delivers to others the impact this book had on me. As a first time author, it’s humbling knowing readers will be spending some of their precious time reading my book. Black Bird of the Gallows is my debut, and I hope it offers a temporary escape for someone in need of it. I had so much fun writing this book about harbingers of death, the darkly cursed Beekeepers, and the teenage girl who gets swept into their world. I owe much of my love of writing to Robin McKinley’s BEAUTY, which was the first book to win my heart. The first book that made me want to create worlds and characters of my own.

ABOUT THE BOOK: Black Bird of the Gallows

A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full. Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece—and he’s not human.What’s more, she knows something most don’t. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.

]]>https://www.everafterromance.com/book-made-meg-kassel-want-write/feed/011078EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT: Royal Attraction by Tiffany Truitthttps://www.everafterromance.com/11074-2/
https://www.everafterromance.com/11074-2/#respondTue, 19 Sep 2017 21:51:18 +0000https://www.everafterromance.com/?p=11074Alexandra Ryans’s life has been anything but normal. Some might even call it a fairy tale. As the daughter of the former U.S. ambassador to England, she grew up within the palace walls, best friends with the three young princes. Adored by the press and the British people. What more could a girl want? If […]

Alexandra Ryans’s life has been anything but normal. Some might even call it a fairy tale. As the daughter of the former U.S. ambassador to England, she grew up within the palace walls, best friends with the three young princes. Adored by the press and the British people. What more could a girl want?

If only the press knew the real story behind her relationships with the Dudley boys. Then, they’d really sell some papers.

Oliver Dudley, youngest son and third in line for the throne, loves everything about his life. The fame. The parties. The women. The utter lack of expectations and responsibilities that come with being last in the line of succession. But while the world thinks he has everything he wants, there’s one thing he was never able to call his own—the beautiful and spunky American Aly Ryans. But how can he convince her when she hates everything about his life? And what is he willing to give up to get her?

Check out our exclusive excerpt below!

“Do what?” I breathe, finding it hard to concentrate on anything but the way his fingers feel against my body.

“Talk down about yourself like you’re not the single most amazing girl in all the world,” he replies. He places a finger under my chin, so I am forced to look at him. I reach up to run my hand down my hair, but Ollie catches it. He brings my hand up and places it over his heart. “You don’t have to be nervous around me, Ryans. I’ll never do anything you don’t want me to do.”

I look at the way his hand covers mine, so gentle, yet so protective. How safe the sight of our hands together makes me feel. “I don’t know what I want,” I admit.

“Good night, Ryans. I’ll see you tomorrow,” he says before turning away.

“Ollie! Wait!” I call out. “I want you to kiss me. I don’t know why I want it, or what it means to want it. All I know is that’s what I want right now.”

Ollie doesn’t hesitate. In a matter of milliseconds, he’s back in front of me, hands on my face, pressing me back against my bedroom door. His lips inches from mine. And then he stops. He eyes search mine, and I think I’ll die from waiting. “Ollie,” I beg, my voice all throaty.

“I’ve thought about what it would be like to kiss you again for three years. Let me have a few seconds to enjoy it, Ryans,” he replies, roughly. Three years? Had Ollie been pining for me for three years? Me? He licks once at his lips, and I groan. The side of his mouth twitches, and I’m about two seconds from punching him right in the gut for making me beg for it.

The door opens at the sound of my voice. Ollie stares down at me, his face etched with weariness and worry. I don’t know how to make any of that go away, but I’m still here.

I’m here, Ollie.

I follow him into the room where we shared my first kiss all those years ago. How different it all was back then. How young and happy we were. Would we ever feel that way again? With a heavy sigh, Ollie sits on the bed, staring up at me wordlessly. He wears happiness on his face so often that it’s unsettling to see it gone. It breaks me.

We don’t speak. We simply stare at each other. All the revelations of earlier, the uncomfortable truths thrusts amongst us, like a wall between what we want and what we can have, and the more I stand here staring at him, the angrier I become at it all. Why does it have to be like this? What else will we have to sacrifice in the name of the crown? How would our lives be different if we were just a man and a woman?

As I look around the room where he had just been a boy and I had just been a girl, I’m desperate to pretend again that we could be those people. Even though I’m sure it’s madness that drives me, I turn and walk back to the door. I close it.

And then I lock it.

I let free a shaky breath as I turn around and lean against the door. I bite down on my bottom lip as my eyes rake across Ollie’s face. Want. It stretches between us like lightning crashing from the sky to the ground. Like a tether that will always connect us to each other no matter how hard we pull against it.

Ollie bolts up from the bed, pressing me against the door. His mouth crashes into mine, and I moan. I clutch onto the fabric of his shirt, pulling him close to me, needing, wanting to feel every inch of him against my body. He braces his hands on both sides of my face. His lips burn through my skin: my lips, my neck, my chest.

It’s still not enough.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Tiffany Truitt was born in Peoria, Illinois. A self-proclaimed Navy brat, Tiffany spent most of her childhood living in Virginia, but don’t call her a Southerner. She also spent a few years living in Cuba. Since her time on the island of one McDonalds and Banana Rats (don’t ask), she has been obsessed with traveling. Tiffany recently added China to her list of travels (hello inspiration for a new book).

]]>https://www.everafterromance.com/11074-2/feed/011074Secret Identities & Romance | Brenda Drakehttps://www.everafterromance.com/secret-identities-romance-brenda-drake/
https://www.everafterromance.com/secret-identities-romance-brenda-drake/#respondMon, 18 Sep 2017 22:18:23 +0000https://www.everafterromance.com/?p=11071Stevie Moon is famous…at least to the subscribers on her comic review vlog. At school, she’s as plain as the gray painted walls in the cafeteria. So when Blake, the hot new guy at school, shows an interest in her, she knows trouble when she sees it. Been there. And never doing it again. As […]

Stevie Moon is famous…at least to the subscribers on her comic review vlog. At school, she’s as plain as the gray painted walls in the cafeteria. So when Blake, the hot new guy at school, shows an interest in her, she knows trouble when she sees it. Been there. And never doing it again.

As the son of the god Thor, Blake Foster’s been given an important mission—to recover the Norse god Heimdall’s sacred and powerful horn before someone uses it to herald in the destruction of the entire universe. But while Blake is great in a fight, the battlefield that is a high school’s social scene is another matter.

Blake knows his only choice is to team up with the adorable Stevie, but she’s not willing to give him even the time of day. He’ll need to woo the girl and find the horn if he hopes to win this war. Who better to tackle Stevie’s defenses than the demi-god of thunder?

BRENDA DRAKE ON SECRET IDENTITIES:

How some of my favorite superheroes hide their secret identities fascinates me. Some merely have to don professional clothes and slip on a pair of eyeglasses to hide him or her selves. Case in point, Superman and Wonder Woman. Which makes no sense because we can totally tell who they are. Then there’s the ones who wear masks. Some masks conceal the superhero’s entire face like Batman. Others don’t do as good of a job at hiding identities as with the Green Lantern. How does this even work? It’s because the creator of the superhero relies on the reader’s suspension of disbelief—that his or her readers will believe the superhero is unrecognizable in disguise.

I have to stop here and tell a silly story. At the Romance Writers of America conference in Orlando in July, I had a superhero moment. While walking to an event and not feeling like I looked good after sweating all day, I said to one of my roomies, “I should put on my glasses so no one will recognize me.” My roomie cracked up and said. “Who do you think you are? Superman?” We laughed all the way down the elevator.

Brenda Drake grew up the youngest of three children, an Air Force brat, and the continual new kid at school. Her fondest memories growing up is of her eccentric, Irish grandmother’s animated tales, which gave her a strong love for storytelling. With kids of all ages populating Brenda’s world, it was only fitting that she would choose to write stories with a bend toward the fantastical for both younger readers and the young at heart. And because she married her prince charming, there’s always a romance warming the pages. Her favorite books are The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis, Kings Row by Henry Bellamann, and Anna and the French Kiss by Stephanie Perkins. When she’s not writing, she hosts workshops and contests for writers such as Pitch Wars and Pitch Madness on her blog, and holds Twitter pitch parties on the hashtag, #PitMad. In her free time, Brenda enjoys hanging out with her family, haunting libraries, bookstores, and coffee shops, or just reading someplace quiet and not at all exotic (much to her disappointment).

]]>https://www.everafterromance.com/secret-identities-romance-brenda-drake/feed/011071Q&A with Meg Kassel!https://www.everafterromance.com/qa-meg-kassel/
https://www.everafterromance.com/qa-meg-kassel/#respondWed, 13 Sep 2017 19:46:06 +0000https://www.everafterromance.com/?p=11064We have MEG KASSEL on the blog today to answer some questions so let’s get started! What are your five favorite movies with romance or romantic elements? Dirty Dancing: The scene in the lake where they’re practicing the lift. It’s just SO much chemistry and sexual tension. Everything about the romance in that movie was so […]

We have MEG KASSEL on the blog today to answer some questions so let’s get started! What are your five favorite movies with romance or romantic elements?

Dirty Dancing: The scene in the lake where they’re practicing the lift. It’s just SO much chemistry and sexual tension. Everything about the romance in that movie was so well done. The restrained emotions, the long, heavy glances. For me, there hasn’t been a movie that’s pulled off a love story that well since.

The Princess Diaries: I really dig that adorable musician boy she initially blows off, but she sends him a pizza with “sorry” spelled out in M&Ms and he forgives her and comes to her crowning ceremony and oh—her foot pop when he kisses her. Sigh. I love that movie.

While You Were Sleeping: Everything about Bill Pullman in this movie. He’s just so adorable and Sandra Bullock is so cute. I love the scene where she asks him if there’s any reason why she shouldn’t marry his brother and he, unwilling to ruin anyone’s happiness, says “no” and slams out of her building. Also, the scene at the end, when his whole family comes to the toll booth where she works and he gives her a diamond ring instead of a token! You cannot watch that scene without a big silly grin.

Practical Magic: Again with Sandra Bullock. I know. But also Aiden Quinn! Oh yes. My favorite scene is the one where she’s confessing to him (he’s law enforcement) that she killed this bad guy who tried to kill her sister and then they just attack each other. The chemistry is off the charts. Also, the scene in the end, when he comes back and they’re all dreamy walking toward each other with a Stevie Nicks playing in the background.

She’s All That: Say what you will about those 90s teen flicks that feature random choreographed dance sequences, they were pure fun. Plus, I write YA, so these movies are close to my heart. The scene that won this movie for me was the one where Rachel Leigh Cook’s character comes down the stairs transformed into a bombshell with that little red dress and makeup and her hair all done and Freddie Prinze Jr.’s character just stares at her in awe. I love that! It’s exactly how every teenage girl dreams her dream boy would look at her. Heck, it’s how every adult woman would like a guy to look at her.

Did you have any of these scenes in mind when writing scenes from your latest release?

Ha! Not really. The make-out scenes in Black Bird of the Gallows formed and grew from the circumstances they were in. Maybe, a little of the forbidden romance was channeled from Dirty Dancing, but when I’m writing the kissing scenes, I’m only in this story, with these characters, and in order for it to be authentic, it’s got to be it’s own thing.

FIVE BOOKS

If you could only read five books for the rest of your life, what five books would they be, and why?

I’ve read all these books multiple times, will never part with them, and love them, but I think I’d lose my mind if I could only read five books for the rest of my life.

BEAUTY by Robin McKinley—It’s a retelling of Beauty and the Beast and so far, the best I’ve ever read! It lives in a place of honor on my forever shelf.

THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN by Holly Black—this book is so twisted, but the zing between the heroine, Tana, and the vampire who falls in love with her, Gavirel, is intense. The kiss around page 159 is epic.

GENTLE ROGUE by Johanna Lindsey—I have no idea where I acquired this tattered paperback circa 1990 featuring Fabio on the cover in all his shirtless glory, but the romance between Georgina and James is memorable, thanks to incredible character development.

HIDDEN RICHES by Nora Roberts—Again, it all comes down to characters for me. Jed and Dora are complex, delightful characters who make their romance one I can’t forget. Their vivid personalities make the love story unique.

HARRY POTTER AND THE SORCERER’S STONE by J.K. Rowling—I’m cheating a little by saying I’d like to include the whole series in here, as I read them after all seven books were out and I literally read them back to back to back. It was an intense, immersive experience. I can’t wait to read them to my daughter when she’s old enough.

BOOK BOYFRIENDS

Who are your book boyfriends? What do you like about them? What characteristics do they share with the hero from your latest release?

1. The Darkling, from Leigh Bardugo’s Grisha series. Okay, so the Darkling is a bad guy (really bad), but he was smoking hot in that first book and that kissing scene was amazing. And I like the bad boys (in fiction, only, thank you).

The vampire Gavriel, from Holly Black’s THE COLDEST GIRL IN COLDTOWN (see above question). He’s also of questionable morality, but again, fictional bad boys work for me. I like it when they fall in love and become vulnerable and Gavriel falls very solidly in love. Ugh, I loved him.

Mackie from Brenna Yovanoff’s THE REPLACEMENT. He’s a changeling who was raised by a human family and aside from being hot, he has this cool reserve but an inner sensitivity that I found endearing when I read it. I really like supernatural guys who kind of hate being supernatural. Mackie would be the most similar to my hero, Reece, from Black Bird of the Gallows. Both are inherently decent people, unlike The Darkling. Both possess strong control over their mental faculties, unlike Gavriel.

FIRST ROMANCE (AKA My First Time):

What was the first romance novel you read?

It was EMERALD NIGHTS by Virginia Brown! I found it at a rummage sale with my mom and grandmother. I was fourteen, maybe? Anyway, I bought it without them knowing and hid it in my purse so I didn’t get any grief about being to young to read romance novels. I probably was too young to read romance novels.

What do you remember about it?

I don’t have a crisp memory of it anymore, but I do remember being swept up in the romance and adventure. And surprised by the spicy parts! Even though this book is a sweeping historical and used polite words, like “manhood” to describe the parts, it was still quite eye-opening.

Have you ever reread it? If you did, how do you feel about it now?

I wish I could reread it! I lent the book to a friend and never got it back, learning a lesson about lending books, but also losing my first ever romance novel.

SNAPPY CHAT

Darcy or Wentworth? Darcy

Rochester or Heathcliff? Rochester

Spock or Kirk? Spock

Sunrise or sunset? Sunset

Angst or humor? Humor

Tea or coffee? Both. Coffee: morning. Tea: afternoon.

Wine or beer? Yes, please!

Cake or pie? Pie.

Scruff, beard, or clean-shaven? Scruff.

Blue-collar or white collar? White collar.

Jeans or a suit? Jeans.

Car or motorcycle? Car.

Phew!

ABOUT THE BOOK:

A simple but forgotten truth: Where harbingers of death appear, the morgues will soon be full. Angie Dovage can tell there’s more to Reece Fernandez than just the tall, brooding athlete who has her classmates swooning, but she can’t imagine his presence signals a tragedy that will devastate her small town. When something supernatural tries to attack her, Angie is thrown into a battle between good and evil she never saw coming. Right in the center of it is Reece—and he’s not human.What’s more, she knows something most don’t. That the secrets her town holds could kill them all. But that’s only half as dangerous as falling in love with a harbinger of death.

]]>https://www.everafterromance.com/qa-meg-kassel/feed/011064How I Fell for Paranormal Romance | SD Grimmhttps://www.everafterromance.com/fell-paranormal-romance-sd-grimm/
https://www.everafterromance.com/fell-paranormal-romance-sd-grimm/#respondWed, 13 Sep 2017 16:40:10 +0000https://www.everafterromance.com/?p=11059Hey guys! I am so excited to be on the Ever After Romance blog today! And I’m thrilled to be able to talk about one of my favorite things: paranormal romance. I mean, I never thought of myself as one of those types who loves reading romance (shhhhh! Don’t hate me!)—I’ve always been drawn to […]

Hey guys! I am so excited to be on the Ever After Romance blog today! And I’m thrilled to be able to talk about one of my favorite things: paranormal romance.

I mean, I never thought of myself as one of those types who loves reading romance (shhhhh! Don’t hate me!)—I’ve always been drawn to fantasy and science fiction stories—but I LOVE romance in those stories. Then I discovered paranormal romance. I heart them.

The first one I ever read was thrust into my hands literally by some friends who deemed that I just had to read this book. And that I would love it. The book? Twilight. Did I like it? I mean, haters gonna hate, people. It might not be my favorite paranormal romance, but I can definitely thank my friends for introducing the genre to me. It wasn’t long after devouring the Twilight series that I stumbled upon the book that would make me fall for the genre as a whole.

The book? Shiver by Maggie Stiefvater. I literally bought the book because of the cover. The vines. The wolf. THE SPOT OF BLOOD ON THE LETTER “I”! Yeah. Sold. Take my money, already. And I LOVED it.

Have you read it? The angst. The werewolf trope. (I love werewolves. Yes, you can expect some werewolves from me in the future. wink, wink) The angst—did I mention that already? Yep. I was completely hooked.

And suddenly I wanted to write about characters who were cursed in a way that tried to pull them apart, who were figuring out life together and dealing with real life AND paranormal life! And I wanted to write about them falling in love. Cue eyes popping out of head. What? I wanted to write paranormal ROMANCE? Yep. Later, an idea would come to me that would blossom into Summoner. Aaaaand I’d be hooked on writing more.

ABOUT THE BOOK:

When Allie’s best friend dares their group to play a game in a cemetery—something she calls “witching”—Allie never expects what it might mean for her. When she plays, she doesn’t just find bodies, she summons their souls. But one soul wants more than Allie is willing to give.And the boy next door could be the key to saving her.Cody Burkhart. Straight from Montana, cowboy hat wearing, and smoking hot, he’s just the thing to help Allie become “normal” again after the death of her mother. And as her newly appointed Guardian, he’s also just the thing to help Allie ward off the vengeful spirit who’s after her soul. Except Cody has his own demons to slay that keep him closed off. But as the full moon approaches, so does their only chance to break the curse, and Cody will have to make the biggest sacrifice of all.

Author Bio

S.D. Grimm’s first love in writing is young adult fantasy and science fiction, which is to be expected from someone who looks up to heroes like Captain America and Wonder Woman, has been sorted into Gryffindor, and identifies as rebel scum. Her patronus is a red Voltron lion, her spirit animal is Toothless, and her favorite meal is second breakfast.She is represented by Julie Gwinn of the Seymour Agency, her office is anywhere she can curl up with her laptop and at least one large-sized dog, and you can learn more about her upcoming novels at www.sdgrimm.com

]]>https://www.everafterromance.com/fell-paranormal-romance-sd-grimm/feed/011059Mari Carr’s Top 5 Happily Ever Aftershttps://www.everafterromance.com/mari-carrs-top-5-happily-ever-afters/
https://www.everafterromance.com/mari-carrs-top-5-happily-ever-afters/#respondTue, 12 Sep 2017 21:54:37 +0000https://www.everafterromance.com/?p=11051Even if I’d known I would lose Sunday McCormick Collins so early, I would have married that beautiful woman. What we shared is all I’ve ever wanted for my children and my grandchildren. Love isn’t about the happy ending. It’s about the happiness found each and every day you’re together. – Patrick “Pop” Collins Padraig […]

Even if I’d known I would lose Sunday McCormick Collins so early, I would have married that beautiful woman. What we shared is all I’ve ever wanted for my children and my grandchildren. Love isn’t about the happy ending. It’s about the happiness found each and every day you’re together. – Patrick “Pop” Collins

Padraig Collins loves his bartending job at Pat’s Pub, the Baltimore hangout owned by his equally beloved family. He’s young, carefree, filled with starry-eyed hopes and dreams for his future…which are irrevocably thrown off course when patron Mia Curtis comes into the bar, visibly upset. When she leaves in tears, Padraig follows. He hopes to give the young woman comfort and assurance. What he gets in return is a massive dose of reality.

Mia has a ticking time bomb in her head, an inoperable tumor, with a diagnosis of only six months to live. As Padraig lets her cry on his shoulder, listens to her heartbreakingly detail the things she’ll never get to

experience, he’s forced to face some hard facts about the way he’s lived his own life up to this point. Meandering through each day as if youth means immortality, and he has all the time in the world.

An evening of soul-searching leads to a life-changing decision—Padraig will help Mia accomplish everything on her bucket list. He won’t let her die with a single regret. But that goal transforms into something far deeper when Padraig falls in love with the courageous woman. His once endless future shrinks to months instead of years, accompanied by a crushing sense of desperation.

Until they realize life isn’t measured in time. It’s measured in moments…

This story will hopefully widen your definition of a traditional happy-ever-after. Not all of us get the luxury of a lifetime…but that doesn’t mean we can’t have a lifetime’s worth of love in the time we’re given.

MARI CARR’S TOP FIVE HEA’S:
5. Baby and Johnny in Dirty Dancing. Cue the music! “Nobody puts Baby in the corner.”

4. Harry and Sally from When Harry Met Sally. “I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

3. Birdee and Justin in Hope Floats. “Dancing’s just a conversation between two people. Talk to me.”

2. Jamie and Claire in Outlander. “Don’t be afraid. There’s the two of us now.”

1. Annie and Dean in Overboard. “I’ll never let you go. You’re my Annie and you always will be.”

About Mari Carr

Writing a book was number one on Mari Carr’s bucket list and on her thirty-fourth birthday, she set out to see that goal achieved. Too many years later, her computer is jammed full of stories — novels, novellas, short stories and dead-ends and she has nearly eighty published works.

Virginia native, Mari Carr is a New York Times and USA TODAY bestseller of contemporary erotic romance novels. With over one million copies of her books sold, Mari was the winner of the Romance Writers of America’s Passionate Plume award for her novella, Erotic Research.

]]>https://www.everafterromance.com/mari-carrs-top-5-happily-ever-afters/feed/011051A book for every star sign! | Horoscope Book Recommendationshttps://www.everafterromance.com/scorpio-hates-virgo-anyta-sunday/
https://www.everafterromance.com/scorpio-hates-virgo-anyta-sunday/#respondTue, 12 Sep 2017 14:59:46 +0000https://www.everafterromance.com/?p=11031This year is all about healing the heart, Scorpio. It’s time to leave negative attitudes and stoic facades at the door and let others see the real, more vulnerable you. Percy Freedman is not grieving. Absolutely not, take that back at once. No, he’s entirely sure that selling his dead aunt’s home and leaving the […]

This year is all about healing the heart, Scorpio. It’s time to leave negative attitudes and stoic facades at the door and let others see the real, more vulnerable you.

Percy Freedman is not grieving. Absolutely not, take that back at once. No, he’s entirely sure that selling his dead aunt’s home and leaving the neighbors he’s known for years is the sane thing to do. Who in their right mind would keep the house that smells like all the hugs he’ll never have again?

Nobody, that’s who.

Well, except his cul-de-sac neighbors. They all seem to think some paint and new furniture will clean the emotional slate. They all want him to stay.

Even his old nemesis, Callaghan Glover.

Especially his old nemesis, Callaghan Glover.

Lured into a game of Sherlock Gnomes, Percy finds himself hanging out with his neighbors more than might be considered healthy. Along with juggling new and surprising verbal grenades from Cal, and his burgeoning friendship with Gnomber9, Percy is starting to wonder if selling might have been the grief talking after all . . .

That’s right, Scorpio. With a little patience, heartbreak might be a thing of the past . . .

Oh Aquarius, so wonderfully weird! You are all about openness, communication, and giving to those in need. Your willingness to help others makes you compassionate, and your high intellect makes for fascinating conversation. You need a romance that satisfies your need for mental stimulation as well as being creative and a bit offbeat.

My book pick for you: Flat-Out-Love, by Jessica Park.

With your dreaminess and desire to escape reality, Pisces, you crave a strong Happily Ever After. Caring, wise, and generous, you seek passion in your books. Lovers who forge a deep connection with their partners. Lovers who are resolutely loyal and who will go to the ends of the earth for the one they love.

My book pick for you: Carry On, by Rainbow Rowell

Going through life with courage and dedication to your goals, a good novel for you must have a solid plot with clear character goals. A touch impatient, Aries, the novel should be well paced and always moving forward, and it should show the main character making use of his talents.

My book pick for you: Captive Prince, by C.S. Pacat

Reliable, patient, practical Taurus. Your devotedness makes you a true treasure. You seek entire libraries full of love and beauty to surround you, but you prefer your romance to be realistic. Romance novels are best with characters who take time to get to know each other. Characters who seek emotional as well as physical intimacy. You are likely to be a lover of slower burning love stories.

My book pic for you: The Wall of Winnipeg and Me, by Mariana Zapata

Curious, affectionate and fantastically flirty, you are so much fun to be around, Gemini! With your quick wit and need for entertainment, you enjoy romances that either make you think and philosophize, or romances that are quick light-hearted reads. A bit of both worlds works wonders for you. Also, quirky side-characters can really elevate a book for you!

My book pick for you: The Lightning Struck Heart, by TJ Klune

Highly empathetic, imaginative and loyal. Cancer, you are all about the heart! A good romance for you needs to be rich in emotion. Characters must tap into your sympathetic and sentimental side and if they hook you, pulling you through the deep waters to their Happily Ever After is easy. You love stories that make you laugh out loud, make you tear up, make you want to reach into the book and knock their heads together.

My book pick for you: Bear, Otter, and The Kid, by TJ Klune

Oh lazy Leo, just loving to lounge about and be the center of attention! The perfect romance book for you is one that is dramatic, passionate, and creative. Characters should be unique and generous—and a splash of humor always goes a long way. As a fire sign, you are all about the burn. You love intensity in the action and a slow burning build to the romance.

My book pick for you: The Foxhole Court trilogy, by Nora Sakavic

Attuned to the smallest detail, Virgo? Need a romance that is smart and sarcastic, one that that clicks with your quick wit? Trust is key in relationships and you love to see it develop between the characters in a romance novel, too. You are good at reading between the lines, better at saying things how they are. You love great banter and characters who are smart.

My book pick for you: Anna and the French Kiss, by Stephanie Perkins

Peacemakers! Libra, you’re all about harmony, symmetry and fairness. Good romance books therefore are best when they are balanced. Creative, expressive, charming. Heroes should be fair, consistent and open-minded. They should love spending a lot of time with their love interest, love reading, and love debating. It’s difficult for you, Libra, when you’re forced to choose between two competing ships. Love triangles are most times frustrating.

My book pick for you: Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe, by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

Scorpio, you are a well of deep emotions and secrets. While you love to maintain an air of mystery about you, you love to know what everyone else is thinking and feeling. A good romance for you is one that lets you play detective; lets you guess at the hidden meanings behind small gestures. Characters should intrigue you, and bring the heat. Sexiness is definitely a win.

My book pick for you: One For The Money, by Janet Evanovich

Playful and fun, you love characters that are open, passionate, willing to try new things. Oh, Sagittarius, so many things can work for you in a romance! You love to dabble in most genres, so long as the narrative is smart and the writing shows some sense of humor. A little impatient, you prefer the slightly faster-paced books. When you find a winner, you are often very enthusiastic about it and love to share.

My book pick for you: Hero, by Perry Moore

A discerning reader. Capricorn, it’s not easy for a romance book to win your heart. When one does, though, you will likely reread it over and over. You like characters that share experiences from your own life and you appreciate when the love interest shows their love through actions rather than words. Romance books can be quiet and subtle, their power coming from an understated narrative.

My book pick for you: Arrows Through Archer, by Nash Summers

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Anyta Sunday is a big, BIG fan of slow-burn romances. She loves to read and write stories with characters who slowly fall in love. Some of her favorite tropes to read and write are: Enemies to Lovers, Friends to Lovers, Clueless Guys, Bisexual, Pansexual, Demisexual, Oblivious MCs, Everyone (Else) Can See It, Slow Burn, Love Has No Boundaries.Anyta writes a variety of stories, Contemporary MM Romances with a good dollop of angst, Contemporary lighthearted MM Romances, and even a splash of fantasy. Her books have been translated into German, Italian and French. Connect with Anyta: Website | Twitter | Facebook

]]>https://www.everafterromance.com/scorpio-hates-virgo-anyta-sunday/feed/011031Paige Tyler’s Top 10 Books Of The Momenthttps://www.everafterromance.com/paige-tylers-top-ten-books-moment/
https://www.everafterromance.com/paige-tylers-top-ten-books-moment/#respondFri, 08 Sep 2017 22:18:37 +0000https://www.everafterromance.com/?p=11009 Since I write with my husband, I thought we’d do something a little different with this question and give two favorite takes on our favorite books of the moment. That way, it gives you a chance to see what kind of stuff the both of us read, and how those styles sometimes show up […]

Since I write with my husband, I thought we’d do something a little different with this question and give two favorite takes on our favorite books of the moment. That way, it gives you a chance to see what kind of stuff the both of us read, and how those styles sometimes show up in the books that we write together!

If you’re looking for amazing reads with couples you can fall in love with and truly cheer for, you’ll love the Imperfect Series! It’s one of those book series that will have you yelling at the characters to hurry up and get together! It’s obvious that they should be together, so why are they toying with us like this? Each book in series follows a different couple as they go through the trials and tribulations of falling in love, except that Mary seems to find the funniest way for each of them to do it. I love this series so much that I’ve already read it more than once, and will likely keep reading it over and over. Word is she has a new series releasing soon, and I can’t wait!

I might write a lot of romantic suspense and intense, fast-paced action stories, but when I want to relax and chill, give me a little new adult every time. I haven’t read this series yet, but it revolves around Halloween themes and sounds funny, snarky and cute. I’m hoping to get into this series as soon as I can fit it within my writing schedule.

Monster High Series

I fell in love with the original four-book Monster High series by Lisi Harrison, but when the world opened up and other authors like Gitty Daneshvari and Nessi Monstrata started writing in it, I continued to read them. Now, it’s no secret that I’m pretty much addicted to all things Monster High. We spend Christmas vacation watching Monster High movies, and my husband is convinced we need to buy a new house to hold all the Monster High dolls I have.

Truth or Beard (Winston Brothers) by Penny Reid.

Haven’t read this yet, either. This story is about Jessica and her “kerfuffle” choosing between identical twins Beau and Duane Winston. She’d always had a thing for Beau, the outgoing, charming brother, but when things get a little heated with Duane, she realizes she might have been looking at the wrong brother the whole time. Sounds like an awesome setup to me!

Dirty Little Secrets (J.J. Graves Mysteries) by Liliana Hart.

Another on my to-be-read list, this time a thriller/mystery. This one sounds like it’s sure to keep me up at night, with lots of dead bodies, a serial killer, and secrets coming back to bite people in the butt! Is it bad to admit that I write romantic suspense and haven’t read one of Liliana’s books yet? I promise I’ll fix that ASAP (deadlines permitting).

Hubby’s Favorites

I tend to read stories that lean a little more toward the urban fantasy side, so here are my list of current favorites, or on my to-be-read list.

The Dastardly Miss Lizzie (Electric Empire Series) by Viola Carr.

This is the third book in the Electric Empire Series, an amazing genre mash-up of steam punk, historical, mystery, paranormal, and romance involving Dr. Jekyll and her alter ego, Lizzie Hyde, who solve crimes in the steampunk inspired past while trying to keep their secrets. I’ve been reading this series from the start, and I’m feeling a little bittersweet about this last book. The world the author has created is completely unique and I really wished it wasn’t going to come to an end.

Dune by Frank Herbert

I read this book years and years ago, but I saw it show up on BookBub recently and just had the urge to read it again. It doesn’t hurt that there’s talk of rebooting the Dune movie. It will be good to get another read of the story before then.

Diana Rowland is my absolute favorite author, not counting my wife of course! Diana has created a world that makes you cheer for Angel Crawford, a down-on-her-luck woman who ends up getting turned into a zombie. In this story, Angel has to not only deal with the whole zombie thing, but she’s also coping with a bit of a chemical dependency problem. It’s almost more than a zombie girl can deal with. Unfortunately, this series is coming to a close soon, too, so I read this fifth book in the series really slowly, savoring ever second of it.

Dresden Files: Wild Card by Jim Butcher.

This is a graphic novel, which I love. But in this case, I’m reading this format simply as a fix to hold me over until the next book in the Dresden Files series comes out. Jim seems to enjoy tormenting his reader by forcing them to wait an enormous amount of time between books. The last paperback came out in 2015, and I’ve been waiting impatiently ever since. He has a title up on his website, but no details. Not even a cover. That’s just teasing.

First Grave on the Right by Darynda Jones.

I somehow ended up reading Darynda’s third book in this series first. I picked it up at RT, then bumped into her at Lori Foster Get Together where I had a chance to get the first one in the series. I’m looking forward to figuring out how the heroine, Charley Davidson, got wrangled into being a part-time Grim Reaper. It just doesn’t seem like a very fulfilling occupation to me. But however it happened, this series is special. A perfect mix of scary, suspenseful, sexy, and snarky (I have a weak spot for authors who give good snark).

Paige Tyler is a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of sexy, romantic fiction. Paige writes books about hunky alpha males and the kick-butt heroines they fall in love with. She lives with her very own military hero (a.k.a. her husband) and their adorable dog on the beautiful Florida coast. Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

]]>https://www.everafterromance.com/paige-tylers-top-ten-books-moment/feed/011009EXCLUSIVE EXCERPT | On the Chase by Katie Rugglehttps://www.everafterromance.com/exclusive-excerpt-chase-katie-ruggle/
https://www.everafterromance.com/exclusive-excerpt-chase-katie-ruggle/#respondThu, 07 Sep 2017 21:48:01 +0000https://www.everafterromance.com/?p=11003Injured in the line of duty, his orders are simple: Stay alive. But when a frightened woman bursts into his life, Hugh and his K9 companion have no choice but to risk everything to keep her safe. The sole witness to a horrific crime, Kaylee Ramay flees to the Colorado Rockies to start a new […]

But when a frightened woman bursts into his life, Hugh and his K9 companion have no choice but to risk everything to keep her safe.

The sole witness to a horrific crime, Kaylee Ramay flees to the Colorado Rockies to start a new life. There she becomes Grace, a dog kennel employee desperately trying to avoid attention—especially from dangerously attractive K9 Officer Hugh Murdoch.

Because Hugh is tall, dark…and nothing but trouble.

Hugh is anxious to get back in the field after an act of heroism left him warming the bench.

Until then, he and his K9 partner Lexi spend their hours teasing the town’s mysterious newcomer. But when their simmering attraction is nearly cut short by a sniper’s bullet, Hugh’s mystery woman must come clean about the secrets she keeps…

Or both of them will pay the price.

Check out our exclusive excerpt below!

Although Grace didn’t want to try on flannel jeans—or really any of the practical secondhand clothes piled in her arms—a huff of laughter escaped her as she moved into the dressing room. After sorting through the clothes, she had to admit that they weren’t bad. She was just being stubborn because a part of her didn’t want to get new things. There were perfectly good clothes sitting in her condo that she couldn’t access because Martin Jovanovic had chased her out of her home, forcing her to share a bathroom with five other people and buy clothes at a thrift store that smelled ever so slightly of mothballs and mildew.

Stiffening her shoulders, she commanded herself to stop being a whiny baby. For now, she needed to suck it up. She was alive, and that was what mattered. Grabbing the flannel-lined jeans, she gave them a hard look.

“This isn’t going to be fun for either of us,” she told the pants, “but this is what needs to happen, so we’re going to have to make the best of it.”

She started to unbutton her hastily purchased Walmart jeans, but a sound made her freeze. The noise had been faint, just a slight hiss of breath, but it had come from the other side of the dressing room curtain—as if someone was pressed close, listening.

Without moving, she strained to hear more. There was only silence, but she swore she could feel someone’s presence. In her gut, she knew someone was right outside her dressing room.

It’s just Jules, she told herself, but she didn’t believe it. Jules wouldn’t linger like that, hovering so close and quiet. In fact, Grace was fairly certain that Jules was physically incapable of not talking for more than a few seconds. If Jules had been on the other side of the curtain, she would’ve been peppering Grace with questions about how the clothes fit and if she should grab a few more coats.

Grace’s thoughts began to jump around like popcorn. Had Martin found her already? Was it one of his lackeys, ready to take her out the second she emerged? She wasn’t sure if she could actually hear someone breathing, or if her imagination was determined to freak her out.

Buttoning the top button of her jeans again, Grace reached for the edge of the curtain. She had to look. It was far worse not knowing who—if anyone—was silently standing there, watching her. It annoyed her how pale and uncertain her hand looked as she extended it. Her fingers closed around the rough fabric, but then she paused.

Just open it, she ordered herself. Rip it open and get it over with. Taking a deep breath, she yanked the curtain to the side.

No one was there.

Her gaze scanned the open space, finding Jules on the other side looking at books with Dee. The three boys were in a huddle around a table covered with hand tools. The woman at the counter looked as if she might be taking a quick nap in her chair. Grace took several steps out of the dressing room so she could see the entrance to the store.

The door was closing. Grace hurried to the front, jerking open the door and rushing outside, only to crash into someone. With a startled yelp, she tried to stumble backward, but the person grabbed her upper arms. He’s here! He found me! Immediate panic hazed her mind, and she began struggling against her captor’s hold.

“Grace, it’s okay. You’re safe. It’s just me.”

It wasn’t Martin’s voice. Her vision cleared and her heart rate slowed as her terror eased. Tipping her head up, she looked into Hugh’s concerned face. Relief warred with embarrassment, and she stepped backward. This time, he let her go, although his hands stayed up, as if to grab her again if she looked like she was going to fall.

“You okay?”

“Fine.” Flustered, she raised a hand to push her hair over her shoulder, saw how much her fingers was shaking, and lowered her hand back to her side. She suddenly remembered why she’d come outside before Hugh had scared the spit out of her. Looking around, she didn’t see any other people except for the two of them. The street was just as deserted as it had been earlier, but her skin burned as if a thousand pairs of eyes were watching her every move. Sunlight reflected off the windows of the buildings across the street, making it impossible to see inside. Grace wrapped her arms around herself and turned back to Hugh. “Did you see anyone come out of the store?”

His gaze sharpened, changing from general concern to focused interest. “Just you, but I was putting some things in my truck, so my back was turned for a few minutes.” He waved at a red pickup—one that looked old in a ready-for-the-junkyard way, rather than in a classic-car-show way—parked behind Jules’s SUV. A shepherd-type dog sat in the passenger seat, watching them with huge, pricked ears. “Why?”

“No reason.” A rustling sound made her jerk her head around, but it was only the wind making leaves dance across the road.

“Uh-huh,” Hugh said, not sounding as if he believed her. “Was someone bothering you in there?”

She wasn’t sure how to answer that. Although she would’ve sworn she heard someone outside her dressing room, she was starting to think that she was imagining things. After all, the past several days would’ve messed with almost anyone’s sanity. Since she didn’t want to consider that she couldn’t trust her own senses, she changed the subject. “What are you doing out here?”

“Just…more errands.” For the first time since she’d met him, Hugh didn’t answer with his usual cocky confidence. Instead, his gaze darted to the side as he slid his hands in his pockets, looking like a strangely appealing combination of naughty boy and confident man. He snuck a glance at her, and she raised an eyebrow, making him huff and swing a hand toward the pickup. “My truck’s right there. I had to walk by here to get to it.”

“Uh-huh.” She echoed his skeptical sound from earlier. “Do we need to have the stalking-is-bad talk again?”

“I’m a cop, not a stalker,” he said with exaggerated patience. “I arrest stalkers.”

“Might want to check out your house.”

“What?”

She smirked. “It’s looking a little see-through and glassy to me.”

“What?”

“Glass house? Throwing stones?”

Lips pursed, he eyed her for several seconds. “You’re not very good at telling jokes.”

As Grace turned toward the store, she realized that her fear had disappeared. Hugh might be one of the most aggravating people she’d ever met in her life, but he’d made her forget for just a moment that her life was a terrifying, out-of-control horror movie.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

When she’s not writing, KATIE RUGGLE rides horses, shoots guns, and trains her three dogs. A police academy graduate, Katie readily admits she’s a forensics nerd. While she still misses her off-grid home in the Rocky Mountains, she now lives in a 150-year-old Minnesota farmhouse near her family.